Half the Northern Area is tied for first place. The other half is sitting in the cellar.
Although no league championships will be clinched this weekend, Week 7 has some pivotal matchups in the five local high school football leagues.
Camarillo’s trip to Calabasas, a meeting of two 1-0 teams in the Coastal 101 League, features two of the top senior quarterbacks in the area in Brad Barlow and Dominik Hardy, respectively.
Agoura is 5-1 and has won five of the past six Kanan Bowls. Coming off an overtime loss to Calabasas, rival Oak Park can’t afford to fall two games off the pace.
“It’s a really big game,” said Oak Park coach Casey Webb. “It’s a big environment for both
teams. … You know it’s going to be action packed.”
In an old-fashioned Channel League matchup, Ventura hosts old foe Santa Barbara, which it hasn’t beaten since 2016.
“They look good on film,” said Ventura coach Tim Garcia. “For whatever reason, they seem to have had our number there for a little bit.”
With Westlake and Moorpark to follow in successive weeks, Garcia knows there’s little room to error.
“We’ve got a bunch of solid walls in front of us,” Garcia said. “We need to figure out how to break through them.”
Oaks Christian, at 0-6, may still be suffering the longest losing streak in program history, but the Lions showed signs of life in last week’s loss at Pacifica.
Transfer reinforcements like receivers Grayden Morris and Carter Wolf, running back Caden Dragomer, defensive end Cole Chambers and powerhouse linemen Apisai Fifita helped.
“He’s special, man,” said Oaks Christian coach Rudy Carlton of Fifita. “It completely changes your dropback game. He’s everything. He’s long, he’s athletic, he’s physical. He’s been a huge help.”
While Oaks Christian is adding, injuries have been subtracting from Simi Valley, this week’s opponent.
Simi Valley running back Sal Villa, the county rushing leader, did not play in last week’s loss to St. Bonaventure because of an ankle injury.
Royal’s Tri-County League title bid will be tested by visiting Dos Pueblos, which has allowed 4.3 points per game over its current three-game winning streak.
Linebacker Holdin Brey (60 tackles) and defensive end Adrian Avila (15.0 tackles for a loss) have been key figures.
On to the Week 7 picks. Let’s see how much Joe Knows.
Friday, Oct. 9
Pacifica 27, Newbury Park 20: The Tritons haven’t lost to a Ventura County opponent since October 2024, a streak of 11 wins.
Oaks Christian 21, Simi Valley 17: The Lions have not scored more than 17 points during their program-long seven-game losing streak, which dates back to last November.
Westlake 35, Thousand Oaks 20: The Warriors snapped the Lancers’ four-game win streak in the rivalry last year.
Moorpark 31, Rio Mesa 17: Will Davis Benson return for the Musketeers?
Santa Barbara 28, Ventura 27: Santa Barbara’s current six-game winning streak in the series is its longest since 1977.
Agoura 35, Oak Park 24: The Chargers have won five of the past six Kanan Bowls.
Camarillo 28, Calabasas 21: Only the third meeting between the teams all-time and first since 2015.
Oxnard 21, Buena 20: The Bulldogs have won three of the past four meetings in the series, including last year’s dramatic 28-25 victory.
Royal 21, Dos Pueblos 20: A bi-county showdown to be the favorite in the Tri-County League?
Fillmore 41, Hueneme 24: The red-hot Flashes are averaging 48.8 points during their four-game winning streak.
Nordhoff 42, Channel Islands 21: After going three decades without a win over the Raiders, the Rangers have won four of the past five meetings since 2014.
Santa Paula 27, San Marcos 17: The Cardinals haven’t beaten San Marcos since 2018, dropping the last three meetings.
Grace 41, Del Sol 40: Another big test for the Lancers’ run defense.
Santa Clara 22, Carpinteria 14: A big chance for the Saints’ first league win since 2017.
Saturday, Oct. 10
St. Bonaventure 31, Bishop Diego 21: The Seraphs have won 11 of the past 14 meetings since 1996, although the Santa Barbara school won last year, 35-27.
Last week: 13-2 (.867).
This season: 94-19 (.832).
Joe Curley — aka Jostradamus — writes The Star’s high school football picks column. He can be reached at joe.curley@vcstar.com. Follow him at @vcsjoecurley on Twitter/X, Instagram/Threads and Facebook.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Jostradamus reveals picks for a pivotal 2nd week of league play
